Improvement in apparatus for the manufacture of soap



n. FBEELAND. Apparatus .fair the Manufacture of Soap.

N0,l58,268, j Patented Oe'c.29,1874,

l1 NITED STATES PATENT Grrron ROBERT FREELAND, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT lN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SOAP.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 58,268, dated December 29, 1874; application filed November 21, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT FREELAND, of the city of Montreal, in the district of Montreal and Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Soap and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, and where- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional elevation on line A A, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail of the reverser.

My invention consists, first, in an improved process herein describedfor the manufacture of soap under heat and pressure, whereby the ingredients are converted into soap in a more expeditious and efficient manner than by any process or means hitherto known; and, secondly, in the apparatus for performing the same, by which the ingredients are heated and automatically agitated without the assist ance of any expensive machinery for the purpose.

Although my invention is described as having reference to the manufacture of soap, it must clearly be understood that I do not confine myself to its use for this particular purpose, as it is equally well adapted for, and will be found very valuable in, the preparation of concentrated extracts and sirups in cacao or otherwise, the extraction of vegetable oils and of gelatinous and glutinous materials, dissolving silicates, tallow-rendering and boneboiling and distillation, or, with the cover removed, as an evaporating or boiling pan, with rapid circulation.

My invention may be briefly described as the combination, with a closed vessel, of one or more inner shells, open-at the top and bottom, having arranged within the annular space contained between the outer vessel and inner shells a steam -coil, the heat of which acts upon the ingredients, causing them to ascend rapidly through the annular space until they fall over into the inner shell or shells, and are at the bottom again brought under the elevating force of the steam-coil, thus establishing a artificial current, which, combining with the natural current caused by the close or dry steam, produces a c rculation of great velocity. (Instead of the above-mentioned coil a jacket or other well-known equivalent may be used.)

The circulation of thematerials may, if desired, be changed by shutting 0% the close steam and opening an aperture provided for that purpose in the shield, whereby the live steam is admitted immediately into the inner chamber. I also provide a vessel for condensing purposes, and to be otherwise used, as hereinafter described.

A is a closed vessel,'in which the ingredients are placed, of any suitable material, shape, or size found desirable, and supported, as shown in the drawings, or in any other convenient Way, at a sufficient height above the floor to allow room for the pipes, 850., to be hereinafter described. B is a removable cover, secured to the vessel A by bolts or in anysuitable way, so as to render it steam-tight. G is the inner shell, (one only being shown in this case,) open at the top and bottom, through which the ingredients circulate, and. being secured to the outer vessel A in any convenient manner, both ends of this shell 0 being preferably arranged to curve inward, as shown on the drawing. D is a shield, covering the open ing in the lower end of the shell or shells 0, but placed at a sufiicient distance from O to allow the materials to circulate freely between them. E is a small aperture in the shield D, closed or opened by an attachment, F, operated from the outside, which I term a reverser, for the purpose of changing the current of live steam from the outer space G to the center, or vice versa. G is an annular space between A and 0, within which is arranged a steam-coil, H, to which the steam is admitted by a pipe, I, provided with suitable valve, the condensation-water passing off by the pipe K. Both these pipes are furnished 2 15s,2cs

with valves I K, to let off the water arising from condensation, so that they may be used indift'erently, either as supply-pipes for the steam or discharge-pipes for the condensation-water. The coil H may also be used for the purpose of reducing the temperature of the contents of the vessel, by admitting cold water through it or into the jacket used in lieu of a coil. L is a pipe, through which live steam may be admitted, and also serving as a blowoff or discharge pipe, the discharge being regulated by the valve L The tap L affords a means of clearing the pipe L, should it ever become clogged. M is the pipe through which the steam passes to the pipe L, having, in addition to the ordinary valve, a checlevalve, M. N is a pyrometer, thermometer, or steam-gage, as may be required, placed in any suitable position, and 0 a funnel provided with a regulating-valve, for charging the apparatus,

P is an'air-valve to allow the air to escape during the filling of the vessel A, to the same openin g being attached a steam-pipe, Q, with valve Q to assist in expelling the contents of the vessel. Bis the combined condenser, injector, and air or water heater, placed either where shown or in any convenient position. This is to be applied for the several purposes above mentioned, and especially as a means for creatin g a vacuum in the vessel A, where lower temperatures are required than can be otherwise produced. By this means, also, additional materials can at any time be added during the manipulation, its contents being forced into the vessel A by steam from the blow-pipe R through the pipe R This vessel It is also provided, as shown, with a coil, S, through which air or water may be forced and heated by means of steam contained within the body of the vessel R itself, and this coil S may be connected with the coil H by the pipe W, so asto allow the heat of the air or water to act upon the material contained in the vessel A in cases where low temperatures are preferable. T is the pipe admitting air to the coil S, and U an induction-pipe for water to the same coil, V being the continuation of the pipe U as a spray, furnished with a rose (as shown in dotted lines) at its end, to the upper part of the condenser R, and X is a filler attached to R. All these pipes are provided with suitable valves for clos-.

ing and opening connections, as may be required.

. The operation of my invention is as follows: The vessel A being charged with the ingredients to'be operated upon, steam is admitted to the coil H through either of its connections I or K, the heat arising therefrom causing the ingredients to ascend quickly through the annular space G and pass down through the shell or shells, as shown by the arrows, thus affordin g automatically a rapid circulation and heatin g of the materials, thereby causing them quickly to unite and form perfect soap, or, when the apparatus is used for other purposes, efl'ecting the operation required in very little time and with perfect efficiency.

The rapidity and force of the circulation may be much increased by the direct admission to the annular space G, through the pipe L, of live steam, the direct course of which is diverted by the shield D. By opening the aperture E, which may be done by means of the reverser I*, the steam may he admitted direct to the center of the shell 0, and by shutting off the steam from the coil H, the current of the circulation may be reversed.

The vessel B may be used, as maybe desired, for either of the purposes for which ithas been described.

In certain of the uses above mentioned I insert within the shell 0 a movable perforated diaphragm, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) on a level with the floor of which I provide a tubular opening connecting with the outside for the removal of secondary products or refuse material, the said opening being closed on the outside by any suitable port.

-What I claim is as follows:

1. In the manufacture of soap under pressure, the process described of heating within a confined space, open at either extremity, and' by means of dry steam contained within a jacket or coil, assisted by a jet of live steam, a portion only of the ingredients contained Within a closed vessel, thereby causing them to ascend while the remaining portions, left unheated, descend, thus establishing, by ascending and descending currents, an automatic, violent, and continuous circulation.

2. In combination with the cylinder A and shell 0, the steam-coil H, having connections I and K, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with the cylinder A, shell 0, and pipe L, the shield D, having the aperture E at its lower end provided with and controlled by the reverser F, as and for the purposes described.

4. In combination with the closed vessel A, for the purposes above mentioned, the vessel R, both constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes described.

Montreal, 6th day of November, A. D. 1874.

ROBERT FREELAND.

Witnesses:

FRAS. HY. REYNOLDS, S. KERR. 

